Leyte's tide embankment project to proceed within 2016

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 17 (PNA) -- The PHP7.9 billion tide embankment project designed to shield communities in this city and nearby town from rising seas, will proceed within this year, a top official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) confirmed on Thursday.

Despite efforts of some groups to derail the project, DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said the central government has already set aside PHP2.6 billion funds this year to commence the construction of seawall. This will kick off in some parts of San Jose district in this city and Palo town under section 4.

In 2017, the project will get PHP700 million for construction activities in some coastal villages of Palo and Tanauan towns, covering section 5.

Last Nov. 8, President Rodrigo Duterte and DPWH Secretary Mark Villar were supposed to break the ground for section 4 of tide embankment project in Palo town, but it was cancelled after some groups threatened to hold a massive rally.

“The scheduled ground breaking was just ceremonial. The project will start soon now that the contractor has started the mobilization their equipment to support civil works in some subsections,” Tabacon said in a mobile phone interview.

The government has identified at least 14 subsections that are now in advanced stage. Of the total, three have been awarded to contractors; two are scheduled for bidding; and four with final designs. Completion of specific designs and program of works is ongoing for other subsections.

The official dismissed claims by protesters that the project was not carefully planned by the DPWH.

“The project design is a product of one year study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and several consultations with local government units, concerned government agencies, and affected communities. We also highly considered environmental impacts,” Tabacon explained.

The project was supposed to prioritize the coastal communities from Tacloban City Astrodome to San Jose district, but it was not pushed through pending the relocation of families within the danger zones.

The 27.3-kilometer tide embankment project stretches from Diit village in Tacloban to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town. Sections 1 to 3 are in Tacloban, section 4 are the coastal villages of Tacloban and Palo, section 5 are some areas in Palo and Tanauan, and section 6 in Tanauan town.

The four-meter high structure was pushed through by the previous administration after the 2013 storm surges wiped out neigborhoods in Leyte province. (PNA)

ZST/SARWELL Q. MENIANO